Car-indicator.



H. A. HUNIPHREY.

CAR INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I9, I9o9.

1,155,817. P3L-@med oet. 5, 1915.

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LVTNESSES:

w ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII Co., WASHINGTON. D. c,

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Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

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HI A. HUMPHREY.

CAR INDICATOR.

APPLICATION `FILED IIILYIQ. 1909.

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WTNESSES.-

H. A. HUMPHREY.

CAR INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I9, I9o9.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII Co\v.\snINGToN. h I..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. IIUMPI-IREY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR IO SAFETY ELEVATOR LOS? ND SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, .A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CAR-INDICATOR.

Application filed July 19, 1909.

To all fio/"wm t may concern.'

Re it known that I, HENRY A. HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car indicators.

It relates particularly to indicators for elevator cars and isadapted to indicate the position and direction of movement of the car.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention-in its preferred formMFigure 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of circuit controller which is operative synchronously with the elevator car. Fig. Q is a side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the dotted line a-b of Fig. 1. Fig. 4l is another side elevation of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of an elevator equipped with the circuit controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the preferred form of one of the indicating devices. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the dotted line c-CZ of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of one of the indicating devices with the cover removed. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit which includes the indicators and circuit controlling mechanism.4

Similar reference characters denote similar parts. Y

In carrying my invention into effect, one or more indicators may be employed for indicating the position and direction of the elevator car. Preferably a plurality of indicators are employed, the indicators being located respectively at the different floors of the building in which is located the elevator. Any suitable electrically actuated indicating device may be employed, and any desired form of circuit controlling mechanism which is operative in conjunction and synchronously with the car may be employed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

serial no. 508,469.

to control the circuit containing the electrical indicating device. l

In the drawings I have illustrated the preferred form of indicating device. As the indicating devices are all alike a description of one will suflice for each.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7, S and 9, 1 denotes a casing, preferably of circular form and provided with an open forward side having releasably secured thereto a cover 2 provided with a plurality of openings 3 and two openings 4. Secured over the open forward side of the casing 1 by the cover 2 and to the rear of the cover, preferably is a transparent or translucent plate 5 having inscribed thereon opposite the openings 3 characters denoting respectively the different doors of the building, such as B denoting the basement, and 1, 2 8 &c., denoting the first, second, third and other floors of the building. Upon the plate 5 opposite respectively the openings lare inscriptions, such as Up and D denoting the direction of movement of the elevator car. Preferably the casing 1 is provided with a circular' central partition 6 and a plurality o-f radial partitions 7 between the partition G and the inner wall of the casing 1. These partitions with the casing form a plurality of chambers 8 in which are respectively located a plurality of electric lamps 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 located respectively so as to throw light through the openings 3, thereby illuminating the characters inscribed on the plate 5 opposite said openings. The lamps are preferably secured to the forward side of insulating material 15 secured to the forward side of the back wall of the casing 1 and to the rear of the partitions 6 and 7. Suitable holes 16 in the back of the casing and insulating material are provided through which extend the wires which connect with the lamps. In the casing 1 is a diametrical horizontal partition 17 which extends from one side of the partition 6 to the opposite side thereof and divides the space inclosed by the partition 6 into two compartments or chambers 18 in which are respectively located two electric lamps 19 and QOdisposed respectively so as to throw light through the openings ll, thereby i1lu1ninating the characters Up and D on the plate 5. The partition 17 extends between the plate 5 and insulating material 15, said material and casing 1 having holes 16 for the passage of wires connecting with the lamps 19v and 20.

I willnow describe the preferred form of mechanism operative in conjunction and synchronously with the car by which the circuit which includes the lamps 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20, and the manner in which this mechanism is operated.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, 21 denotes the elevator shaft frame work, 22, the elevator car, 23, the cable supporting the car, 24 the drum to the periphery of which the cable is secured, 25 a horizontal rotary shaft which supports the drum 24 and is rotative therewith, 26 a worm wheel secured on the shaft 25 and meshing with a worm 27 mounted on the armature shaft 28 of a motor 29, preferably electric. Secured to the periphery of the shaft 25 and adapted to be wound upon and unwound therefrom is a flexible device, such as a cord 30, which passes upwardly from the shaft 25 to and over a pulley 31, thence horizontally to and over a pulley 32, thence downwardly to a carrier 33 which the cord supports. The carrier 33 is vertically slidable upon a vertical bar 34 secured to a plate 35 preferably of insulating material, and having mounted upon it two vertical contact bars 36 and 37 of conductive material. Disposed parallel with and respecli -`ely adjacent to the bars 36 and 37 are two similar contact bars 38 and 39, which are also secured to the forward side of the plate 35. A series of contacts 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are secured one above the other to the plate 35 and are disposed parallel with and adjacent to the bar 36. A similar set of contacts are similarly disposed relative to each other and to the bar 37, said contacts being respectively denoted by 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51. The contacts of the two sets last described are preferably vertically adjustable relative to each other, so that the distances between the contacts may be made to relatively correspond with the distances between the different floors which such contacts represent. Rotatively mounted in the carrier 33 is a horizontal rock shaft 52 provided with two laterally extending arms 53 and 54 on which are respectively rotatively mounted two roller contacts 55 and 56 which are insulated respectively from said arms by sleeves 57 and 58 of insulating material. The roller contact 55 is adapted, when the rock shaft 52 is rocked to the proper position and the car 22 and carrier 33 move downward from their uppermost positions to roll upon the contact bars 36 and 38 and to successively strike the contacts 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, as the car -22 appreaches the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and basement floors. As the car 22 and carrier 33 move upward from the lowermost positions and the shaft 52 is rocked so that the roller 56 is in the proper position, said roller will roll upon the Contact bars 37 and 39 and will successively strike the contacts 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 as the car 22 passes from the basement to the top floor. The number of contacts in each set corresponds to the number of floors the elevator car is adapted to reach. In order that the rock shaft 52 may be rocked to positions in which the roller contacts 55 and 56 will alternately strike the contacts in their respective paths of travel the following described mechanism is preferably provided: A plurality of right angle plates 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 are respectively pivotally mounted in the plate 35 in holes 64 provided one above the other in the plate 35. One set of arms of the said right angle plates project horizontally through the plate 35 and normally project in front of the forward side thereof in position to be struck by the roller 56 when the roller is in the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby rocking the shaft 52 so as to place the roller 55 in position to be struck by the contact bars 36 and 38 and contacts 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. The other set of arms of said right angle plates 59 to 63 extend upward and normally bear against the rear side of the plate 35 against which they are yieldingly held by springs 65 secured to the plate 35. A similar set of right angle plates 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70 are similarly pivoted to the plate 35, and are disposed in a manner similar to the other set of right angle plates, excepting that their vertical arms extend downwardly instead of upwardly. The plates 66 to 70 are disposed one above the other in the path of the roller 55 when the roller is in position to strike the contacts 40 to 45. On the upward movement of the carrier 33 with the roller 55 in position to strike said contacts, the roller 55 will strike the plate 66 to 70 immediately above it, thereby causing the shaft 52 to be rocked to the position shown in F ig. 2, with the roller 56 in position to strike the contacts along itsline of travel. To secure the rock shaft 52 releasably in the position to which it may be moved, it has secured to it a plate 71 disposed radially relative to the shaft and at its outer end having two flat surfaces 72 and 73 against which is adapted to alternately rest a spring 74 secured to a projection 75 on the carrier 33. An adjusting screw 76 is mounted in a threaded hole in a projection 77 on the carrier 33, and bears at one end against the spring 74. As the shaft 52 is rocked to its two positions the spring 74 alternately rests against the Hat surfaces 72 and 7 3, thereby releasably holding the plate 71 and shaft 52 in the positions to which they are moved. The carrier 33, may have Iso " conductor 90.

suspended from it a weight 78 to assist it in moving downward when the car 22 moves downward and the cord` is unwound from the drum 24. The downwardly extending arms of the right angle plates 66 to 70 are normally yielding held against the rear side of the plate 35. As the roller 55 moves downwardly in contact with the bars 36 and 38, the right angle plates 66 to 70 will be forced rearwardly and will not rock the shaft In like manner as the roller 56 moves upwardly the right angle plates 59 to 63 will be moved rearwardly and the shaft 52 will not be rocked. Upward movement of the roller 55, and downward movement of the roller 56, when said rollers are in contact position, will cause the shaft to be rocked as above described, the roller 55 on the downward movement of the carrier 33 being in contact with the contact bars 36 and 33 and striking the contacts 40 to 45- successively, On the upward movement of the carrier 33 the roller 56 will be in contact with the contact bars 37 and 39 and will successively strike the contacts 4.6 to 51.

I will now describe the circuit in which the devices are located.

Referring to Fig. 10 it will be noted that two indicator casings 1 are shown connected in multiple in circuit with a generator 79. The two casings may be located at different floors. While I have shown two indicators connected in circuit with each other, the.

invention is not limited to any particular number, as it is obvious that as many as desired may be employed. One brush 80 ofthe generator 79 has connected to it a main conductor 81 which includes a suitable resistance device 82. The lamps 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the indicator denoted by group A have one set of terminals connected by conductors 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88 respectively with a conductor 89, which is connected to the main conductor 81 by a The other set of terminals of said lamps are respectively connected to conductors 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96. One set of terminals of the lamps 19 and 20 of group A are connected by conductors 97 and 98 respectively with conductor 89, the other set of terminals of said lamps 19 and 20 of said group have connected to them respectively conductors 99 and 100. Conductor 99 is connected to one terminal of lamp 19 of group B, the other terminal of said lamp being connected to a conductor 101, which is connected to a conductor 102. A conductor 103 vconnects conductors 102 and 81. Conductor 100 connects with a conductor 104 which is connected to contact bar 36. Conductors 91, 92, 93. 94, 95 and 96 are connected respectively with conductors 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 and 110 which are respectively connected to contacts 46, 44, 43, 42, 41 and 40. Conductor 105 is also connected to a conductor 111 which is connected to contact 45. Contacts 47, 48, 49, and 51 are respectively connected by conductors 112, 113, 114, 115 and 116 with conductors 106, 107, 108, 109 and 110. A conductor 117 is connected to conduct-or 99 and to contact bar 37. A conductor 118 connects contact bars 38 and 39 and is connected by a conductor 119 to the other brush 120 of the generator 79. One setI of terminals of lamps 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 20 of group B are connected to conductor 102 by conductors 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, and 127 respectively. The other set of terminals of said lamps are respectively connected by conductors 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 and 134 with conductors 111, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, and 104 respectively. lvVhen the car 22 is at the top Hoor, the carrier 33 will be in the position shown in Fig. 2. If now the car starts downward to the basement floor, the carrier 33 will also move downward and the roller 56 striking the right angled plate 59 will be forced forward, thus rocking the shaft 52 to a position in which the roller will rest against contact bars 36 and 38. Current will now pass .from generator 79 by' brush 80, conductor 81, which includes resistance 82, and will then divide and pass by conductors 90 and 103 to conductors 89 and 102 respectively, thence respectively through conductors 98 and 127 to and through lamps 20 of groups A and B, thence by conductors 100, and 134 to conductor 104, thence by contact bar 36,

contact roller 55, contact bar 38, conductors 118 and 119 and brush 120 to generator 79. The current passing through lamps 20 will cause the lamps to illuminate the characters D on the plates 5 in casings 1, thereby indicating that the car is moving downward. As the roller 55 successively strikes contacts 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45, the current will successively pass through lamps 14, 13, 12,-

11, 10 and 9 of groups A and B. The disposition of the contacts 40 to 45 is such that the roller 55 will rest on said contacts when the car is in positions opposite the floors represented by said contacts. Then the roller is on contact 40 the current will pass from conductors 89 and 102 to conductor 110 through conductors 88 and 126, lamps 14, and conductors 96 and 133. From conductor 110 the current will pass through contact 40, thence by roller 55 to generator 79 by contact bar 38, conductors 118 and 119 and brush 120. In like manner as the roller 55 successively strikes contacts 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 the current will pass successively from conductors 89 and 102 to and through the lamps 13, 12, 11, 10 and 9 of groups A and B by the conductors connecting said lamps with said conductors 89 and 102, the current passing from said lamps to said contacts by the conductors which respectively connect the lamps with said contacts. From said contacts, the current will pass to the generator by roller 55 contact bar 38, conductors 118 and 119 and brush 120. The Characters 4:5, 4:4177 c4311, :c2177 al and Bn on plates 5 in casings l will thereby be successively illuminated, thus indicating the position of the downwardly moving car. Vhen the car has reached the bottom floor and starts upward the roller 55 will strike the right angle plate 66, thereby rocking the shaft 52 so as to bring roller 56 against contact bars 37 and 39. The current will then pass from generator 79 to the conductors S9 and 102, by the path already described, and from said conductors through the lamps 19 of both groups by conductors 101 and 97, thence by conductor 99 and conductor 117 to contact bar 37, thence by roller 56 to contact bar 39, thence by conductors 118 and 119 and brush 120 to generator 79. The lamps 19 being lighted will illuminate the characters Up in casings 1, thus indicating direction of movement of the car. As the car moves upward, the roller 56 successively strikes the contacts 46 to 51 and the current will successively pass from conductors 89 and 102 to the lamps 9 to 14 of groups A and B by conductors 83, and 121, 84 and 122, S5 and 123, 86 and 124, 87 and 125 and 88 and 126. The current will then pass from said lamps to said contacts respectively by conductors connecting the lamps with said contacts. The disposition of the contacts 46 to 51 is such that the roller 56 will rest on the contacts as the car passes the floors represented respectively by said contacts. Thus a person at a Hoor by observing the lamps in the casing 1 at said floor may determine the direction of movement andposition of the car. The resistance device 82, preferably a resistance coil is employed to reduce the current from the generator 7 9 employed to light the signaling lamps.

I do not limit my invention to the speciic structure illustrated and described, as various modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made, without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a ear indicator, the combination with a car movable to different floors of a building, of means for reciprocating the car, a carrier reciprocative synchronously with the car, two electric circuits, two lamps, one in each of said circuits for indicating direction of movement of the car, two other electric circuits each including a lamp for indieating the position of the car, a rock shaft carried by the carrier, circuit controlling means operated by said rock shaft and having means for controlling the circuits which include the direction indicating lamps and the position indicating lamp, and means for rocking said shaft when the direction of movement of the carrier is changed.

2. In car indicators, the combination with a car, of two electric circuits including a plurality of electric lamps for denoting different positions of the ear, each lamp being in each two circuits, two sets of contacts, said contacts being located respectively in said circuits, and means for alternately closing the circuit through said two sets of contacts respectively when the direction of movement of the car is changed.

3. In car indicators, the combination with a car, of two electric circuits ineludin a plurality of electric lamps for denoting different positions of the car, each lamp being in each two circuits, two sets of contacts, said contacts being located respectively in said circuits, and a contact device movable synchronously with the car, and means for alternately moving said device into two po sitions for respectively engaging said two sets of contacts when the direction of movement of said device is changed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. HUMPIIREY.

Titnesses E. B. IIoUsn, J. C. IRWIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

